Leica prices in Hong Kong

[bill_lee2]

I would be grateful if Leica users in Hong Kong would give me an idea of how much a new M6 TTL 0.72 would cost over there. I am considering buying in HK when I head over there next month. I usually visit Man Shing Photo Supplies in Mong Kok but perhaps there are other places that you would recommend. I believe I will have a one/two year international warranty that is effective in Canada, but please let me know about international warranty details if you can. If the price difference isn't big or if the warranty is a problem then I'll just buy in Canada before my trip. Any help is much appreciated.

[edward_steinberg]

Hi,

 

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I bought a 90/2.0 APO-ASPH in Hong Kong from Tin Cheung Camera

Company (G26, Tung Ying Building, 100 Nathan Road, Kowloon side;

phone number 2722 1265 fax is 2722 1043) a few months back. I dealt

with Jennifer Tsang. The warranty on the lens was of no significance

to me (but it came with all offical papers), because it is quite rare

for a new Leica lens not to work properly. I believe I paid $1,260

for the new lens, which is an extremely competitive price. To the

best of my memory, I think the M6 is about $1,450 in their store.

Good luck.

 

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Eddie

[hoyin_lee1]

Check out the M6TTL prices (grey market) at Tin Cheung Camera's

website: <a

href="http://www.tincheungcamera.com.hk">http://www.tincheungcamera.co

m.hk</a>.

[wayne_murphy7]

As a long time traveller to hong Kong, here is the definitive version:

 

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When you arrive(or before you go), phone the Leica agent

(was "Schmidt and Co", now I think "Schmidt Photo or similar"). They

are very helpful and will give you a list of all authorised Leica

dealers in Hong Kong as well as the current full "official" price

list for everything.

The official prices are always discounted by around 30% to 35%

depending on the exchange rate for US$ vs Euro or German Marks. The

reason for this is that every shipment of leicas costs a different

amount for the agent and the wholesale price to the dealers also

varies accordingly. The official price list is updated only about

every 6 months and this means that the dealers' "discount rate" to

the customer (you and me)varies depending on the dealers'cost .

 

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There is also a flourishing grey market in Hong Kong. Many of the

dealers offer both officially imported and grey market cameras and

lenses. The only difference is that the official imports have an

agent's sticker on both the box and the guarantee card. The official

imports carry an internationally-valid guarantee and the grey market

stuff must be sent back to germany for warranty work. If you buy

grey market, make sure that the dealer includes the warranty card,

otherwise you have nil warranty.

The dealers mentioned in earlier messages are fine. Other dealers of

repute are Kinefoto, Stanley St and Francisco, behind the Hyatt Hotel.

 

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Just because these are all reputable, that does not mean that they

will give you the lowest price straight off. You need to bargain and

compare prices, but don't waste their time. They have long memories.

 

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Here is the absolute lowest-price grey market REPUTABLE dealer in

Hong Kong. SALON CAMERAS, in a side street behind the Hyatt Hotel.

I have bought repeatedly from this dealer and have never had a

problem. His stock is brand new, he has an enormous turnover, and

there are no tricks.

 

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Price example in Dec 2000: Leica M6 (any model) HK$11,000; R8

HK$8,700 (they can't give them away in Hong Kong either). I know how

these cameras are imported (I have been shown the actual dealer's

invoices) but if I told you, I would have to kill you. The cameras

are 100% kosher. Perhaps that gives you an idea.

 

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Hope this is useful. Sorry about the length. If any one wants more

info, please e-mail me.

[richard_ilomaki]

I bought an M6 outfit from Francisco in Hong Kong and regretted it

for a year.

 

The 21 mm lens I got fogged up in 6 months here in Singapore( I'm a

Canadian expat) and Schmidt in Singapore wanted 300 Sing Dollars to

send it to Germnany to find out if it was covered by warantee. If it

was they would pay-if not, I payed. All this would take 3 months,AND

even though I got it at an "Authorized" dealer, they(Schmidt in

Singapore) would not cover it as I did not buy it in Singapore.

 

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When I returned to Toronto, the then-distributor Kindermann- cleaned

it for me NO CHARGE in 5 minutes. Too bad Kindermann is no longer the

Leica agent in canada.

 

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As soon as I could, I sold the Leica, bought a Knoica Hexar RF oufit

and get pictures as good as any with the Leica, without having to

deal with the distributors- Leica in Solms was no help either- they

didn't even bother to answer my queries.

 

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I made a mistake. I shoulda bought the Leica in Toronto, but in

retrospect, I would not have been driven to buying the Konica and

would still be fumbling with loading the (antique by todays

standards) !#$%^& M6.

 

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Saving a few bucks in Hong Kong is not worth it, particularly when

you have to look the customs guy at the Canadian airport in the eye

and say you did not purchase or acquire anything while out of the

counry-they're sharp!

 

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Good luck.

[richard8]

Quotation january 2002: 12 000 HK$ for an M6 TTL It is possible to

negotiate this price. Official Paers and all. Quite a few stores in

HK offer the same deal. Have a look at your bank account after you

buy.